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Yup, we are a net contributor to the EU and a net importer from it, which they seem to forget. What are they going to do if simply tell them there will be no more money after 2019? Refuse to trade with us? Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face.

In any case the only possible opening stance in the negotiations is to threaten to walk away with no deal, although at this stage we should guarantee EU citizens currently in the UK the same rights as UK citizens currently in the EU.

B. 2nd para. Yes. But what the EU want is for those rights in the UK for their citizens to be guaranteed by THEIR Courts. In any event Magna Carta and all that flows from that (ex land tax privatisation, obviously) give us a 800 year head start or thereabouts over any EU ooman rites court or act.

OTOH, isn't this all just posturing? Both sides want to "look tough" and naturally, as at the start of any negotiating, what both sides are setting out is their ideal position plus a few pounds of flesh to be conceded as negotiations proceed. We are still at the stage when the carpet seller is offering to sell the Persian rug "to you, my friend, special price, 1000 dollar" and the tourist is offering him $50.

...and of course if push comes to shove we can always tell the auto and pharma industries that never mind their export base to the EU going a bit pear shaped, they can sell tariff free to India instead...and boy do India need us more than we need them. Our best fall back position remains another worldwide asset bubble(s) where our dominant financial interests can rake in more super profits.